2029 Athletes Finding Their Competitive Identity

<a href="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/" id="https://prepdig.com/subscribe/">This article was shared with 150+ college coaches. Join PrepDig with 30% off using code: Coachable247</a>   Competitive identity isn't defined by a single match or tournament. It is built over time through the habits athletes develop, the challenges they embrace, and the decisions they make when pressure is at its highest.   I recently asked a group of 2029 athletes what part of their game is beginning to define them, how they stay confident when the level rises, what their coaches have challenged them to improve, and what they hope to accomplish this summer.   What stood out wasn't that everyone shared the same goals.   It was that every athlete described growth differently.   Some are learning to become stronger leaders. Others are expanding their skill sets, becoming more vocal teammates, trusting their preparation, or discovering new ways to impact the match. As summer approaches, each athlete is using camps, training, and competition as another opportunity to continue building on those lessons.    <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> An unshakably confident leader under pressure. </blockquote>   That isn't just a goal Sloane Banks hopes to reach someday. It has become the standard she measures herself against every time she steps on the court.   Over the past year, Sloane has intentionally worked on her leadership and mental toughness, learning that confidence is built long before the opening serve. Preparation, communication, and staying engaged throughout every rally have become the foundation of her game. She believes mistakes are inevitable, but dwelling on them only creates more problems. Instead, she focuses on how she responds.   As a setter, she wants to be the teammate everyone can rely on when momentum begins to shift. Whether that means helping her hitters regain confidence, communicating through chaotic moments, or making decisions that settle the team, Sloane embraces the responsibility that comes with leading an offense.   Her coaches challenged her this season to discover her own leadership style and become more intentional about her court presence. In response, she developed routines that help her stay composed under pressure, from controlling her breathing to quietly singing her favorite song in her head before points. She also makes a point to connect with each teammate during matches and continually seeks feedback from her coaches because, as she shared, becoming more coachable is more important than simply chasing results.   Sloane is excited to continue building on the resilience she has developed over the past year. She plans to challenge herself against stronger competition at college camps and training events while continuing to improve her decision-making, set selection, strength, and defensive presence. For Sloane, every opportunity is another chance to become not only a more complete setter, but the steady leader she wants her teammates to see when the match is on the line.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     As a libero, Keola Napoleon-Alvarez believes one of the biggest responsibilities on the court is helping the people around her play with confidence. This season, Keola has embraced a larger leadership role by communicating more consistently and creating an environment where teammates know they can rely on their libero to do the job. That trust allows everyone else to play more freely because they know someone is behind them.   Keola shared that confidence starts with staying present. When matches become faster and pressure begins to build, the focus shifts to positive self-talk, communicating with teammates, and staying connected to every point. Keola also credits the coaching staff for creating an environment where athletes are encouraged to play aggressively instead of fearing mistakes. Knowing the coaches trust the team to compete with confidence has helped shape that approach during big moments.   One of the biggest challenges this season was taking greater control of the court as the libero. Keola responded by becoming more vocal and intentional with communication. As that trust has grown, so has the confidence to make more aggressive reads in serve receive and defense while helping teammates stay connected throughout the match.   Keola plans to continue training, competing against high-level competition, and pursuing opportunities to earn invitations to NTDP and UA training events. College camps are also part of the plan, providing another opportunity to learn from college coaches while continuing to identify programs that may be a good fit in the future.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Abigail Wunderlich believes the outside hitter position comes with an expectation to embrace the biggest moments. "Serve at me. Hit at me. Set me." That mentality has helped shape her identity, but what she believes is making the biggest difference for her team has less to do with attacking and more to do with becoming a stronger leader.   Abigail described all the little moments that happen between points. Calling teammates off a shanked ball. Letting hitters know where the second ball is going. Reading opposing setters and hitters. Helping teammates recognize open areas of the court. Making sure communication never stops. She credits her years as a middle blocker for helping her see the game from different perspectives, and that experience has strengthened both her court awareness and the confidence she brings to every rally.   Coming from a background in Olympic weightlifting and track and field, Abigail has spent years competing in sports where every attempt happens with everyone watching. Those experiences taught her that mistakes are inevitable, but they should never define the competitor. She also shared that her parents, both former college athletes, have always measured success by effort instead of results. That perspective has helped her compete aggressively without allowing volleyball to become her entire identity.   This season, transitioning from middle blocker to outside hitter has challenged nearly every part of her defensive game. She has invested countless repetitions improving her foot speed, platform angles, recovery from the floor, and range in the back court. The work has been demanding, but Abigail embraces that challenge the same way she approaches pressure: by trusting the preparation she has put in long before match day.   Between college camps, and pursuing qualification for the USA Track & Field Junior Olympics while navigating club tryouts, Abigail will continue balancing two sports at a high level. No matter where the summer takes her, one thing seems certain. She is determined to keep finding ways to become the type of teammate who asks for the ball when the match is on the line.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Gabrielle Pagano is intentional about her development.   She believes one of the biggest strengths she brings to the court is her mentality. Whether she's competing in a match, training in the gym, or practicing with her team, Gabrielle strives to stay mentally engaged, maintain a growth mindset, and use positive communication to help the people around her succeed.   Gabrielle shared that her confidence comes from knowing her "why." She understands that not every goal will be accomplished overnight, and rather than becoming discouraged by that, she focuses on the long-term plan she has created for herself. Keeping the bigger picture in mind allows her to stay patient while continuing to improve one day at a time.   This season, one of her coaches challenged her to consistently get her feet behind the ball on serve receive and free balls. Instead of trying to overhaul every part of her game, Gabrielle made a conscious decision to focus on that single detail every time the ball came her way. It's a simple approach, but one that reflects an athlete who understands that meaningful improvement often comes from mastering the fundamentals.   Gabrielle plans to carry that same mindset into every camp, lesson, and practice. Her goal is not simply to attend more events, but to attack each opportunity with the same drive and determination to become a better volleyball player than she was the day before.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Nalani Catlin has developed a reputation for her work ethic and willingness to compete, but she believes the next step in her development is becoming a more complete volleyball player. Rather than defining herself by one position, she has embraced opportunities to expand her skill set and become someone who can impact the game in multiple ways.   Before every practice, showcase, clinic, or match, Nalani writes down the goals she wants to accomplish. It has become part of her routine, helping her clear her mind, compete with purpose, and stay focused on the process instead of the outcome. When mistakes happen, she reminds herself that one play does not define who she is as an athlete. Instead, she looks for the lesson and moves on to the next opportunity.   One of the biggest challenges her coaches gave her this season was stepping outside of her comfort zone by learning new positions. While the transition wasn't always easy, Nalani realized that growth often begins when athletes are willing to embrace unfamiliar situations. She also shared how grateful she is for coaches who continue to see potential in her, even during moments when she may not fully see it herself.   Nalani plans to continue building on that foundation. College camps, clinics, strength training, and agility work are all part of her plan, but her biggest goal extends beyond any single event. She wants to continue developing into a complete volleyball player who is prepared for whatever challenge comes next. As she reflected on her journey, one statement summed up her mindset best:   <blockquote class="wp-block-quote"> I am proud of how far I have come, but I also know that I am just getting started. </blockquote>   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247     Brooklynn Dunn believes one of the biggest ways she impacts her team is through her leadership and energy. Whether celebrating a teammate's kill or helping the group stay positive during a difficult stretch, Brooklynn wants to be someone who keeps the team's confidence moving in the right direction. She understands that energy can be contagious, especially when momentum begins to shift.   When matches become faster, louder, or more uncomfortable, Brooklynn intentionally narrows her focus. Rather than replaying mistakes or worrying about the score, she reminds herself to trust her training, stay calm, and approach every rally one play at a time. She also believes accountability is an important part of competing at a high level, choosing to focus on the plays she can make instead of the ones she cannot change.   This season, her coaches challenged her to become a more complete six-rotation player by improving her serve receive, defensive positioning, and reaction time. Brooklynn responded by investing in the details, working to become more consistent in the back row and finding ways to keep her team in system even when the pressure increased.   Brooklynn is looking forward to competing at college camps, where she hopes to continue learning alongside athletes from different backgrounds and levels of play. While every opportunity will bring new challenges, her priorities remain the same: continue becoming more consistent, keep growing as a complete player, and stay focused on the things she can control.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247    <h2 class="wp-block-heading">If You Enjoyed This Article, Help Us Keep the Momentum Going</h2>   🔥 Athletes   One of the biggest takeaways from this group is that competitive identity isn't something athletes are born with. It is built over time.   The athletes featured here described learning how to lead with confidence, embrace coaching, trust their preparation, communicate more effectively, and step outside of their comfort zones. While each athlete is developing a different part of their game, they all shared a willingness to keep learning and take ownership of their growth.   Study this group closely. Notice how they think about improvement. The athletes who continue separating themselves are often the ones who understand that becoming a better volleyball player means becoming a better teammate, communicator, competitor, and decision-maker.   📣 Club Coaches & Directors   Thank you for creating environments where athletes are challenged to grow beyond their current abilities.   Throughout this article, your athletes described learning new positions, improving their leadership, strengthening their mindset, embracing difficult feedback, and developing greater confidence in themselves. Those lessons are the result of coaches who continue teaching the game while helping athletes discover the type of competitors they want to become.   If one of your athletes is featured, celebrate them. Share this article, tag @PrepDigCA, and continue helping others recognize the development taking place inside your program.   🎯 College Coaches   One of the most valuable parts of these responses was seeing how athletes describe their own development.   They spoke about expanding their games, responding to challenges, building trust with teammates, improving communication, and learning how to compete with confidence when the match becomes uncomfortable. Those qualities rarely appear on a stat sheet, but they often become the habits that allow athletes to continue growing throughout the recruiting process.   The technical skills will continue to evolve. Just as important is the self-awareness these athletes are developing as they learn what type of competitors they want to become.   🙏 Parents & Supporters   Behind every athlete featured here are years of encouragement, sacrifices, extra training sessions, tournament weekends, and conversations that helped shape the competitor they are becoming today.   Thank you for continuing to support the journey. Growth is rarely measured by one match or one ranking. It is built through consistent effort, resilience, and a willingness to keep learning. If one of these stories resonated with you, share this article and help celebrate the work, commitment, and character that continue shaping the next generation of volleyball players.   🚀 <a href="https://prepdig.com/my-account/subscriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Upgrade to a PrepDig+ Subscription</a> Access exclusive rankings, deeper analysis, and the full Prospect Index to follow every athlete's journey.   <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>   Want More Exposure? The PrepDig Showcase Series is designed for athletes who want to take ownership of their recruiting journey and better understand how visibility, evaluation, and opportunity work together. These events offer more than competition. They provide athletes with a chance to learn how exposure works, compete in front of evaluators, build confidence, and gain valuable insight into what coaches are looking for at each stage of development.   Whether your goal is to improve communication, showcase your skills, earn recognition, receive meaningful evaluation, or simply learn how to stand out in a competitive environment, each showcase is built to help athletes grow both on and off the court. If you're ready to invest in your development, tell your story, and put yourself on the radar, <a href="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase" id="https://prepdig.com/all-events/?type=Showcase">registration is open</a>.   <figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://prepdig.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2026/05/image_7a4b01.png?w=1024" alt="" class="wp-image-991561"/></figure>   Thank you for making today's wins matter — one article, one player, one memory at a time.   ~ Michelle Bamford @Coachable247

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